EC issues order on poll expenses

• The costs incurred on publicising information about the criminal cases against a candidate, as recently directed by the Supreme Court, will be counted as part of poll expenditure, according to the Election Commission.

• The expenses will be borne by the candidate and the political parties. “This being an expenditure [made] in connection with the election, if expense is incurred in this regard, the same will be counted for the purposes of election,” said the EC.

• There is no limit on the party election expenditure. For Assembly polls, the cap on expenses by the candidates is between ₹20 lakh to ₹28 lakh.

• The Commission said the FIR cases have to be given publicity.

Revised status

• If after filing the nomination, the status of the criminal case changes, it will be open to the candidate to notify the revised status to the Returning Officer and publish the revised status.

• Separate formats have been specified by the Commission for the candidates and the political parties.